Page 67 - Daniel

him a priest, but merely a counselor of the king. As such, however, he
was included in the broad category of wise men.

DANIEL’S REQUEST FOR TIME TO SEEK INTERPRETATION OF THE
DREAM (2:14–16)

2:14–16 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch,
the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men
of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the
decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to
Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a

time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

The nature of Daniel’s response is worth noting. Although the wise
men previously could hardly be accused of discourtesy, there seems to
be an additional dignity and calmness in Daniel’s approach to the
problem. “Through Daniel’s judicious interview with Arioch, the further
execution of the royal edict was interrupted.” 14

Among his other duties, Arioch served as the king’s chief executioner,
although he personally may not have had the responsibility of killing the
15
wise men. A decree to execute people who had not had an opportunity
to speak to the king was indeed harsh and severe. But accustomed as he

was to the cruelty of his day, Arioch apparently did not question the
king’s order. When Daniel asked why the king’s decree was so urgent,
Arioch explained the situation. That an official of the king would take
time to explain this to one already condemned to death speaks well both
of Daniel’s approach and of Arioch’s regard for him.

In verse 16, only the briefest summary is offered of what actually
transpired. Undoubtedly, Daniel expressed to Arioch the possibility that
he could interpret the dream and secured Arioch’s cooperation in going
before the king. It would hardly have been suitable, especially with the

king in the mood he was in, for Daniel to go in to the king unannounced
without proper procedure. Possibly, the king by this time had cooled
down a bit. In any event, Daniel was given his audience in which he
asked for time and promised to show the king the interpretation. In
contrast to the other wise men who had already been denied additional